Nut for quick attachment



Jan. 16, 1945. E.. Br-:swlcK NUT FORQUICK ATTACHMENT Filed Aug. 12,"1940w 2 Sheet-s-Shet 1 EEEEEE:

jan., 9 i945. R, E BEswlK 2,367,480*

NUT FOR-QUICK ATTACHMENT I Filed Aug. 12, 1940 2 sheets-sheet 2 esameses. is, i945 .VN-riso .STATES rn'nazrrl'- OFFICE y 'NUT FOB QUICKATTACHMENT Robert Eardley Beswick, Marple, England- Application August12, 1940, Serial No. 352,329- In Great Britain August 14, 1939 '4claims. (cies-32) This invention relates to a nut for quick actionattachment and a spanner or key therefor.

In attachments for the temporary holding of objects or materials thathave to be machined or otherwise operated upon, the use of the ordinaryscrew threaded bolt am? nut is restricted; by

reason of the comparative slowness-or operation that results from havingto make a. number' of turnsfin order to screw the nut on and'o'if theprojecting part ci" the bolt.

they are sprung apartlseeV Fig. 4) suillciently to allow of their beingpassed freely over the threaded portion of a bolt. The segments I whenclosed together collectively form a hexagonal nut-like assembLv. Anexternal sleeve I2 is-pro.-v

vided free to slide over the frame or cage I I having acomplementary-hexagonal inner face to engage the segments and of suchsize as to con- One-object of' my invention is to provide anutK which,instead of having to be screwed up and down the whole length of theprojecting part of thebolt, may be pushed freely along the thread ineither direction and tightened or released when in position by a partturn only.

.lfmotl'nilv Object of the invention is improved ser or keyspeciallyconstructed to] facilitate quick' action oi'applying and/or"removing th improved nut.

According tothe. invention, the improved nut comprises a-plurality ofsegments collectively forming fan-internally threaded nut, a spider-likeframe or cage having a leg for each segment and to theends oi which thesegments are secured so that they separate-radially to disengage froma-bolt, and a,v sleeve slidably mounted on the segments and on the frameand positively retained thereon, -and arranged ior embracing or releasinthesegxnents according to its position.

According to a preferred form of the inventionA the spider-like frame orcage provides spring pressure actingin a direction to separate thesegments.l f

According to a further'feature. of the invention an improved Spanner orkey is provided having resilient means by which pressure may be appliedaxially to the spider-like frame or cage of the nut during itsapplication to a bolt.

In thegaccompanylng drawings:-

strain the segments together when it is pushed` over them so that theirthreaded surfaces close in to form parts of a continuous helix ofsuitable pitch and formto engage the thread of the bolt.

The surfaces of engagement between the external nut andthe segments, i.e. the outer facets of the segments and the complementary inner face ofthe sleeve are slightly tapered to facilitate the assembly andwithdrawal of the former and advantage is taken of the radial reactionof the -rlanks' of'the` thread when the, nut is tightened to force thesegments outward against lthe ex.

u temal sleeve andthusto bind the whole com'- together.

Fig. l-is an `external vle'w of-'one example of quiche, acting nut madeinvention; L l.

Figs. Z and 3 are end views from opposite ends: Fig. 4 ls a sideelevation showing the nut with the segments in the open or releasedpositioni Fig. 5 shows a modihed construction of the nut; Fig. 6 shows aiurthermodiiled construction; Fig. 7 isa top plan view of ig. 6;

Fig. 8-shows a modification of Fig. 6

Fig. 9 shows an vattachment. for use in some'V forms of'construction' ofthe improved nut;

Fig. l0 shows a furtherinodiiication;A

Fig. ills a longitudinal sectional Yview of a key or Spanner with a nutheld therein.

In one f Orm of the invention as'illustrated in Figs. l to 4 the-nutconsists of an internal threaded part formed of three-segments I0, eachattached to one leg l l; oi a spring spider-like frame or cage sothat,Vin their unrestrained'condition in `accordance with this posite nutsecurely against the losening eiects of vibration. l

the parts to be connected are forced together by' As a result of thisthe more tightly bolt to which it is to be ntted, andconsidericg v also'the possibility of the presence oi' an oil iilm and submission tovibration, the angle ortaper' should be less than the critical angle,.that is to say the angle must be smaller than Ythat which I wouldpermit sliding movement .of the slee've to arise from outward pressiu'e'onthe segments whether obtained from the screw thread and/or from thespring lof the spider and whether or not thereis oil onthe surfaces orthe presence oi vibration.

The spider-like frame or. cageissodesigned'as to retain the externalsleeve from coming`en` tix-ely apart from the rest of the device and inits correct location for sliding over the segmented nut. i

nut each have one complete facet Ia pf. 'the hexagon and half facetlb oncach side. vThe complete facet Ila is groovedto receive the end of theleg Hof the spider-,like-,framewluch latter is made of. a'stamping ofsprlngsteel having-l Y a lhat base-like portion Ii which maybewasherlike wlth a 'central hole I 'I which is ofclearance Inconstruction, thethree segments Iljoi the size for the bolt. The threelegs II radiating from this washer-like part are first of all bent toform a hump IIa adjacent to the base, which provides additional springeffect and serves also to reduce the possibility of fracture 'and alsoas a stop to prevent the sliding sleeve I2 from passing over the baseportion. The legs of the spiderlike frame are of the same width as thefacets IUa and as the corresponding facets Within the sleeve. or oisuflicient width to locate and guide the sleeve on to the segments. Theends of the legs II are arranged to fit into the grooves in the facetIlla of their respective segments and are secured therein by anysuitable means as by brazing, riveting, welding or soldering. The basepart I6 of the spider-like frame is further strengthened by a secondstamping I8 of spring steel secured thereto by welding, riveting,brazing or other suitable means and having short extensions I8a whichoverlie the first part of the humps I Ia of the legs in the manner of aleaf spring. The length of the legs II is such that the sleeve can bewithdrawn beyond the segments and so that the taper within the sleeve,if any, and/or the curvature or spring of the legs is sufiicient'toallow the segments to separate for the axial application and removal ofthe same from a bolt.

In an alternative construction, as shown in Fig. 5, the base part of thespider-like frame may consist of a Washer-like turning I9 in one endface of which is formed an annular groove near the central hole 2I, andinto which groove are made six holes 2 Ia radially directed from theouter periphery. The spring members forming the legs in this caseconsist of pairs of bent spring wires 22, each having one end fittedinto one of these holes 2 la' by insertion from the groove and securedtherein by soldering or other suitable means. The ends of the springs 22are suitably secured in holes drilled in the ends of the segments 23 andthe springs are arched at 24 to contact and guide the sleeve 25 in thesame way as the at blade-like legs II of the example above described.

In another example as shown in Figs. 6 and '1 and Where the nature ofthe Work demands that the nut shall be short, the sleeve 26 is madeseparable from the segments 21 and the spider-like frame holding thesegments together has its base 28 immediately against the outer face ofthe segments 21. The legs 29 of the frame are lo.. cated in slots 30 inthe sides of the segments of sufficient depth to permit their separationto clear the thread of the bolt whilst at their inner ends the legs ofthe spider-like frame are fitted with tenons 3I located in radiallydirected holes in the segments. In order to prevent separation of theparts. the sleeve 26 is formed with an axially directed groove 32 to beengaged by a pin 33 at the base end of each leg 29 of the spiderlikeframe and at its forward end the sleeve is be turned with a key orSpanner to tighten the assembly `on the bolt like an ordinary nut. Forrelease it is only necessary to loosen the nut, when the parts mayagainbe separated or removed, or they may be removed together if thereis suincient space for doing so. In this form also, the

sleeve may be shaped as a wing nut for hand operation.

In a further example of the invention as shown in Fig. 8 and which is amodication of the short nut shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the sleeve 35 ismade separable from the segments 36 and the spiderlike frame holding thesegments together has its base 31 immediately against the outer face ofthe segments 36. The legs 38 of the frame are located in slots 39 in thesides of the segments of suillcient depth to permit their separation toclear the thread of the bolt, Whilst at their inner ends 'the legs 38have their ends bent in as tongues 40 which are located in radial slotsin the segments. The sleeve may, if required, be separated from thesegments. The nut Will be usable exactly as described for the exampleillustrated inslight rotational movement in a -counterclockwise -toengage the upper ends of the segments.

direction as'sists proper engagement of the threads of the nut with thethreads of the bolt.v

By the subsequent application of a rotational motion to the externalsleeve the whole device may now be screwed along the bolt the furthershort distance necessary to eiiect the desired clamping or tightening ofthe nut. To undo the nut, a small rotation but in the opposite directionloosens the segments from their expansive engagement with the externalsleeve so that the sleeve can be freely withdrawn to the end of thespider-like frame when the segmented nut assembly can be slipped off theend of the bolt.

The complementary engaging walls oi the segments and sleeve need notnecessarily be tapered, but may be parallel-sided provided the legs ofthespider-like frame are long enough to permit the sleeve'to move farenough back for the same to disengage from the segments and allow themto separate suiiiciently to clear the threads of the bolt. In such casesit is desirable that the legs should originate from the inner peripheryof the base portion of the frame in order that their greater angle ofspray when so arranged shall permit a suiciently Wide opening .of thesegments without unduly lengthening the frame. The legs may, further, becurved in such a manner as to facilitate the attainment of this object.Insuch cases the segments, or the sleeve, would preferably be providedwith some means to retain the sleeve from sliding off the ends of thesegments. For that purpose a washer 44 (Fig. 9) may be secured to theupper face of the sleeve provided with internal projections 45 soarranged as to avoid the legs of the spiderlike frame but In all casesengagement of the sleeve with the segments may be facilitated and thenecessary length of the spring legs reduced by rounding the inner edgesof the bottom of the sleeve as shown at 46 inFigs. 1 and 4.

Instead of the spider-like frame having spring legs, the "opening andclosing movement of the segments could be possibly effected by forminglegs to the correct inclination corresponding to the taper of the'facetsor the opening movement required and by fixing to the outer face of thesleeve as illustrated in Fig. 10 a star-like washer 41 shaped so as toleave 1apertures 48 in which the legs of the frame are located. Thus thesliding movement of the sleeve will result in positive opening orclosing of the segments. In all forms of the invention the sleeve may beprovided with projections as in a wing nut for hand tightening.

As already stated, forl these nuts when not arranged for handtightening, the invention includes also a special key or spanner tofacilitate quick action of applying and/or removing the nut. f

In one example of this feature of the invention, as illustratedin Fig.11, a tubular box operating member is provided having a cylindrical mainportion 49, the end of which is shaped to t a hexagonal nut in the usualmanner. Within the barrel of the operating member is formed a shallowC4annular groove adapted to receive a spring ring 50. Against the ring 50is located a thrust washer 52 to form an abutment for a coil spring 53located Within the barrel oi` the operating member, the hole in thethrust washer being of clearance size for the bolt. If preferred thiswasher may be secured by-screws or rivets or in any other suitable way.The hexagonal end of the spanner forms a shoulder in the barrel againstwhich a similar thrust washer 54 is seated to support the other end ofthe coiled spring 53.

In operation, as applied to the nut describedin the i'lrst example, itwill be seen that the nut can be tted to the spanner with its sleeve 55located in the hexagonal shaped end to receive the same, and in 4thisposition the outermost thrust washer 52 will be located against the baseont the spider-like frame. Spring detents 56 are provided in the sidesof the spanner to engage The invention, as regards the construction of-the spanner,l is obviously not limited to all lthe details ofconstruction of the example above described, some of which may bemodified without departing from the nature of the invention.

What I claim is: l 1. An improved nut comprising a plurality of segmentscollectively forming an internally threaded nut having externallytaperediacets, a spider-like frame consisting of' an initially flatpiece of resilient sheet metal and comprising a at transverse baseportion and a longitudinally disposed resilient leg for each of thesegments and to the ends of which the segments are secured so that theycan separate radially to. disengage from a bolt, a. sleeve havingcomplementary tapered internal facets and slidably mounted on thesegments and on the frame, said legs being provided at their outer endswith 'outwardly curved bends forming humps and providing a stop forlimiting the outward sliding movement of the sleeve and increasingspring action and avoiding'iracture, and a second piece of resilientsheet metal secured to the base portion of the frame and extended overthe bends of the legs and cooperating with the same to forma leafSpring- 2. An improved nut comprising a plurality of nut segmentscollectively forming an interiorly threaded nut and having angularlyrelated faces forming a tapered polygonal exterior, a spiderthey willseparate radially to disengage from a grooves 51 in the faces of thesleeve to hold the same in the end of the operating member whilst thenut is being applied to a bolt. To apply the -nut the same is thenbrought over the end .of the bolt and pressure applied to the Spanner topush the vnut down on'to the bolt. Any resistance to this movement dueto the partial engagebolt, and a sleeve slidably' mounted on the nutsegments and on the frame and having a tapered ment of the threads inthe segments with the bolt, will be counteracted by the coil spring 53within the spanner, so that the sleeve 55 does not move forward on tothe segments until the segments have been substantially pushed home onthe bolt against the surface which they are to engage. Next, by a slightrotary movement combined with further downward pressure on the spanner,the sleeve is brought into engagement with the segments to close thesame on to the bolts, the rotarymovement ensuring that the threads ofthe segments do not fail to engage properly with the threads of thebolt. When the sleeve has been pushed fullydown and whilst any pressurels still maintained, on the spanner, the same is given la, furtherrotation to tighten the nut on its bolt against the complementaryworking surface.' A slight outward pull is all that is required now toremove the Spanner from the nut. Similarly for removing such a nut theit down on to the nut until its detents engage nrst operation is toapply the spanner and push with the sleeve thereof.- A slightrotarymovement of the Spanner will release the nut when the tension of thespring in the Spanner will draw back the sleeve, andthe nut as 'acomplete assembly may be pulled ofl.' the bolt and subsequently removedor-released from the spanner. I

As will be obvious the' improvedspanner con' siderably accelerates theapplication of the nut toabolt. v

`polygonal interior conforming to the tapered polygonal exterior of thenut segments, whereby if; is interlocked with the same against .relativerotary movement, said sleeve being also provided `with a polygonalwrench receiving exterior and adapted through its sliding movement toembrace and release the nut segments.

3. -An improved nut comprising a plurality of segments collectivelyforming an internally threaded nut with externally tapered facets, aspider-like frame or cage having a, resilient leg for each segment andto the ends of which the segments are secured, said legs being sprung sothat the segments are initially separated radially to pass over thethreads of a bolt, and a sleeve, having a polygonal wrench receivingexterior and internal complementary facets, slidably mounted on thesegments and on the legs of the frame for embracing or releasing thesegments according to its position thereon.

4. An improved nut comprising a plurality of segments collectivelyforming an internally threaded nut with externally tapered facets, a'spider-like frame or cage having a resilient leg internal complementaryfacets, slidably mounted on thesegments and onthe,legs of theframe lforembracing or releasing the segments according to its vposition thereon,and means for retaining the sleeve ofthe frame or cage.

ROBERT BESWICK.

